Veterans put aside free-agent thoughts

Season is critical for those nearing end of contractsSpotlight

CARLTON THOMPSON, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, August 10, 2004

The Texans set the NFL standard for signing draft picks this offseason, but it remains to be seen how aggressive they will be with some of their key veteran players who are entering the final year of their contracts.

Will they strike deals during the regular season, like they did with cornerback Aaron Glenn in 2002, or will they let the season play out and address the contracts during the offseason as they have done in the past with players such as Jay Foreman, Eric Brown and Gary Walker?

Four players — receiver Corey Bradford, free safety Marcus Coleman, fullback Moran Norris and nose tackle Seth Payne — the Texans are counting on to be starters in 2004 could become free agents after this season. As a policy, Texans general manager Charley Casserly doesn't comment specifically on individual negotiations, but he has expressed a desire to have all four players back next season. Exactly what approach the Texans will take remains an unknown.

"Sometimes we'll talk to them (before the season), sometimes we'll play the season out," Casserly said. "That doesn't mean we don't want the player. Sometimes it's harder to assess the value. Sometimes it all fits into a bigger picture and maybe the best thing to do is wait until the end of the season and see where your whole team is."

Don't be surprised if the Texans take a cautious approach to their top four potential free agents because of the circumstances. Payne is coming off knee surgery, and the team no doubt wants to be sure he is healthy before signing him to a long-term contract.

Coleman is playing a new position, and it stands to reason the Texans would like to see him prove he can make the transition from cornerback to free safety before investing big dollars in him. Norris has been a starter for just one year, and Bradford needs to have more than the 34.5 catches he averaged over the past two seasons.

"If I go out and perform, all of that will take care of itself," Bradford said of his contract status. "When the season starts, I don't want to be bothered with it. I'm just going to play, and whatever happens, happens. If I'm thinking 'This is my contract year and I have to do this and that,' I'll be nervous the whole year. I'm not going to be thinking about my next contract. I'm going to play the contract I have now and just try to play the best I can. Honestly, that's all I'm thinking about."

Payne might have been playing the best football of his career when he suffered an ACL injury in the second game of the 2003 season. If not for that injury, the Texans probably already would have given him a contract extension. But Payne insists he isn't concerned with money he might have lost.

"It's like anything else in life," Payne said. "If you do your job, you'll get rewarded, so that's all I'm concentrating on. At this point in my career, I've made enough money that I'm here to win a Super Bowl and enjoy playing football. The money will take care of itself. I'm worried more about playing in that first game. If it gets close to the end of the season and I haven't signed, then I'll worry about that then. But right now my focus is to try to help these guys win some football games."

Each player said he would be willing to address his contract with the Texans at this time, but none of them believe there is potential for distraction.

"I'm not dwelling on it," Coleman said. "When we get to that bridge, we'll cross it. I've been here for three years. The organization has been great, my teammates have been great. That kind of makes things easier when it comes time to make your decision."